Published 12:00 pm, Friday, February 18, 2011

Plainview ISD board members voted to take a proactive step in providing increased security for campuses during their regular monthly meeting Thursday.

Although the vote was not unanimous, the dissenting votes were not so much about the stated action item as about processes and timing.

The vote was 4-3, with Brandon Brownlee, Adam Soto and Phil Cox voting against. All three voted earlier to table the issue until more information could be gathered.

The proposal was to add an additional school resource officer to the current agreement with the Plainview Police Department.

Currently, the agreement is for one officer, Amos Rodriguez, and for the district to pay for 75 percent of expenses.

The city pays the remainder because during times when school is not in session, Rodriguez assumes city patrol duties.

According to Board President Wes Naron, the proposal to add another officer was suggested by board members Lonnie DiSalvo and Sylvia De La Garza. DiSalvo expressed concerns over the district about to begin a construction project at the high school which will result in a large number of non-district personnel on campus. He saw the request as a proactive move to address future problems.

At the same time, it was pointed out that currently the district has only one resource officer to cover 12 campuses across town. While attendance officers Richard Rangel and Sylvia Barrera also are certified reserve police officers, which allows them the same rights and duties as full-time police officers, Rodriguez explained that much of their daily routine revolves around truancy issues.

While occasionally he is able to call on them for backup or assistance, that is no guarantee if they already are off campus.

Soto asked about establishing a new position in the face of significant funding cuts (see related story), a concern echoed by Cox. Brownlee wants to see a plan that would combine efforts from the city, county and school district to provide a comprehensive program of safety and public relations.

Ultimately, the measure passed and the approximate cost to the district is $70,910.75. Of that, about $55,000 would go toward salary.

In other business the board voted:

•6-0 to name Davis Kinard & Co., PC (formerly Williams Meriwether Smith and Co.) as the district's auditor for the 2010-11 fiscal year. De La Garza was absent for the first two votes

•6-0 to approve the district's calendar for the 2011-12 school year. The first day of school will be Aug. 22 and the last day will be May 25, 2012. There will be 80 days in the first semester and 96 in the second. Spring break is March 12-16, 2012.

•7-0 to select Southwest General Contractors of Amarillo as the construction manager at-risk for the high school renovation project

•7-0 to approve a severance agreement and payment for certified personnel.